Apparatus for the manufacture of combined coal and water gas.



W D. WILCOX.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COMBINED COAL AND WATER GAS.

RPPUCATION FILED JAN. l7, 19:6. 1,321,963. Patented Nov. 18, 1919. 3

4 SHEETS-SHE ET 1 W. D. WILCOX.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COMBINED COAL AND WATER GAS. APPLICAHON FILED JAN. 1?, 19m.

1,321,963. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

4 SHEETS SHEET 3.

{ZWAM ML, (Aerw K v vars/av W. D. WILCOX. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COMBINED COM. ANDWATER GAS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, ms.

1 2 1, 9,63 Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

66 63 67 6 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. Jnz/en of, 671659 i i m D 21/280036 UNITED eTATEs PAl'llhli ill ()FFIGE.

WILLIAE I). WILOOX, O1? CHICAGG, IZLLTL'NUIEB.

APPARATUS FUR THE IEAIYUFAC'LURE OF OOE'GIBENED GOAL AND WATER GAS.

Application out January 47, W16.

T 0 e35 whom it may concern Be it known "that I, lliticmr-i D. WiLcox, a citizen oi? the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county' oi and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvenients in Apparatus tor the hlanufacture of Combined Coaland ater Gas, of which the following is a specification, reterem'ae being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the manufacture of gas suitable for illuminating and fuel purposes, and has to do more particularly with gas manufacturing apparatus of the general type shown and described in. my pending applications, Serial Nos. 26,528.43, filed May (3, 19H), and 3:9,612, filed July 23, 1915 in which the materials from which the gas is derived are treated in what may be termed retort generators 0. a gcnerzw tor extended upwardly to form a retort through which the materials treated pass downward by gravity "to the generator portion of the apparatus, being meanwhile subjected to varying degrees of heat applied both externally and internally of the retort portion of the apparatus.

As explained in my said applications a. plurality of such retort generators are grouped and connected. so that they may be operated cyclically, thereby maintaining a continuous production of water gas derived from'the several retortgenerators operating in sequence. For example where two of such retort-generators are employed, one of them will be generating Water during the blast period of the other, and when the latter reaches the proper temperature for the generation of water gas, it is used for that, purpose and the former retofi-generator is put on blast. The product of both gen.- erators may be conducted to the same holder, and in large part the conduits for supplying steam and air, and for conducting and utilizing the .gases released incidentally to the operation of the apparatus, are u d in comnion in connection with the operation of both retorbgenerators.

My improved apparatus designed for the mamifacture of gas either from suhbituminous coal, lignite, or peat, or from gas coal.v It has for its ohjecto provide an improved apparatus by the use of which it will. be practicable to ec mo=nicallv 1uanufacture gas of good coi'umercial qualit from Specification ci Letters Batcnt.

use of the nuiterials namcdlor the common cial manufacture oi. gas, by removing the ex cess of n'ioisture and carbon dioxid from the materials treated before the tar and combustible gases begin to come off in quantity, using the steam in the manufacture of water gas. The carbon dioxid is also introduced into the generator after having been superheated, where it is broken up and con-vented into carbon monoxid. As will more clearly hereafter appear, I thus not only avoid the expense which is usually necessary in the. treatment ct gas for the removal of the cxcess moisture and carbon dioxidrontained in it, but, also effect the separation of such sub sauces from the as an incidei'it to the gas mai'uifacturirig process, and utilize'the steam and carbon dioxid in conducting later steps of the operation; consequently the combustible gas produced is not only of of moisture and.

much higher quality, but it is produced more economically.

Vl'hen the material used for gas production is a eoa1-z1 a coal rich in volatiles and containing only small percentages of nmisture and combined oxygen-any improved apparatus provides for a more etlcc tive decomposition of the heavy hydrocarbons which tend to condense, and the low temperature tar, and also effects the eonven sion of the carbon dioxid into car-hon monoxid, and decon'iposes a portion of the water vapor into its constituent elements. The decomposition of the condensahle hydrocarbons, resulting in the fOUllHlllQH of fixed gasesincreases the quantity and, in some degree, the quality of the gas made. In addition to these :nlvantugcs, my improved apparatus also utilizes completely the heat produccd by partial coi'ubustion of the residue of distillation. asiit supports the water gas reaction in the generator: it supplies the heat required for the carhonization of the imam of mm in wily, my io the it in parts o m'go pori i hoof Lo i'i'lfl air sauppi y. i owing-s, in, which my inrontii amimriiorl v H i so of 'svhioh Mm do niiuixrntozi, as Woii orth, may to ronii rho no oootioio on iino 2--2 wi l some oftho pipes Ejection on iimi 5--i I v the, 10511 i'iopporS Mimi on. iino i -6o]? Fig. 2" Moi: of oily invention illustrzriiori, 1 .ooto two rotort generators, Wil'ifiil arr, in Lil ass e m1 respects alike, and oiption of: one Wiil sufiioe 1 of Emoh retort generators gonomtor or gonev J ii o. m 10, below usrmi mwooied. pit 1L Mirror and, ronstimting on exroreofl a retort 12 which upper and in a gas-right re oi? the, i'iop iaor is W amiable form of dovioo only be: ompim The or 1 ihzit mm treated, iyor, paws riowim'nrli.

t toward the 1 up any ominous; retort our} mum mtod thro's'u iw the [i ,tor 14:, trianwhim; extends trans" ooi'ltmliy under tho it portion of the {LP-- its my 5 Doing uppermost,

)ifil'ilf pomtu ono of as Show in 1.

zitnblo refractory n'mterial, preferably imlos 5' a mefioiiio beam It serves not only to hook up the down--oo111i11g material and] ii ito it throughout thogonerator,

i iioips 1 sustain the; column of tort, mid. prevents it from int-o tho qonomtor. Tho i of material, roaming "p ridg'o of 'ijilr 2 'lhis deflector is made lin ng; up of any '1 otiimrxvioo 71mm, i3!) How -11 Hie gouoimtoir,

do upper poi ion. oi the retort and m from from to roar centrally thorooi, as own in iii 1. and 3, is a duct or flue 15, open at io'mrr end and taper iog immriiiy from in}? to bottom, forming opooro ijiof'ween. portions; and this wniia's of tho roi'ori: 'm'hirh flare (lownwzu'diy. A tom iuif; 16 imcis from: tho upper pol-thin Hi? this flue, through "which tho gases rising in said fine aro conducted away to a holder, or for ifiu'zftlier trrgatrnwrt- The. conduit lb is; prm'ilied. with a Wire 17, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1'1, said waive being axij'usiiabio by 11mins of #1 chain or equivalent device 18 which cxmvonioratiy :iwoessiblo to the opernior. An. oximnsi fun. 16'' is connected to the (EOINIil'lii; 16 for tluirawing tho gases rising in 1119 Him 155, mi regulating the flow of tho in tho i'ivi' 'ftfil J55 iwroinofl'or c o sorib.

1f) mdioates a a-ti aly of tho two 1.

Willi! ii] disposed intermedi- M' gmemmro, said flue .oorL as shown in.

i and A; rower and tho one 19 connects with :1 i e or conduit; 20, which extomlo ti'iro'llgh opnrtition Wflii 21, as shown in Fig. and, loads to a stack 22. As shmvn in tho iflitor figure, the pipe 20 tilronzri'i am. .L'ILII duct 23,, and not only draw with the lower end J in in. ifxninwotod thoro- "witl'i or moons o M londm v to on L "for: Whifli'l 1i nrg'os into the stock 2&2. A. who 2U is provide/d in the Star below the comm "ion therewith of the outlet of tho fun and a. valve 2'7 pro-- video in tho irr pr botwoon tho fun, and tho pipe 20. My th .zmgomont/tho Waste gasm whiuir. as: 1 !1o'"'iiu1iftor. uliqiozu, aro (i 12pm and of the firm IE5) MM. y .mi Liwreiu, may be (iiSCiUUJ."i iiiflfi? i'lmimgh the ox ha 11;

pipe M r .iorl'iy to i ronic or by opormiing fro r? rm-y be, positive 'y' 2k through the by-p; "is-i op A being fl'j 1,) )8ii3l' i; draft is rgiioii or in tho air (11: tinough said pipe N part of their heat to the air in said duct, consequently conserving heat that would othorwiso ho WfiSUhd.

28 indio-itr-zs on air pipe connecting with the i duct and hauling from a blower 2 cod into the duct. 23

igr, open at the bohtom, of the up who);

.1: the valve, 27

menses best shown in Figs. 2 and 3,-thc arrangement being such that waste gases, and any unconsumcd gases, passing out of the generator through the passages and 31 are delivered to the combustion chamber 252, where, as hereinafter described, they receive an auxiliary supply of air whichdnduces combustion of any unconsumed combustible gases. Either of the generators may be cut oil from the combustion chamber 32 by means of gates 33-34 placed in the pas sages 31, as shown in Fig. 5, and so arranged that they may turn either into a position parallel with such passages when the passages are to remain open, or to a transverse position with relation to such passages when one or the other of the passages is to be closed, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. Any Suitable mechanism may e1nloyed for operating the gates 33'-34, but l prefer to provide each of the gates-with ahand-wheel 35 mounted on a shaft 36 which carries a worm meshing with a wormwheel 37 on the lower end of u shaft 38 which is connected with, or may constitute the pivot of, the gate with which it is counected,as shown in Fig. 2. Thus by rototing either of the hand-wheels 35, the gate connected with. it may be swung appropriately to open or close the passage 31 which it controls.-

The central chamber 32, which as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 connects by a central vertical passage with the passages 31, leads to a series of communicating passages 39 provided at different levels around the retorts, forming fines through which the waste gases are conducted up around the retorts to openings 40 which discharge the gases into the upper end of the flue 19. The circuitousfiow of the gases around the retorts is preferably effected by providing the several passages with staggered partitions 41-42 at suitable points, as shown 'in Fig. l, but any suitable arrangement for the purpose may be employed. As best shown in Fig. l, the walls separating these passages 39 from the retort are made comparatively thin to increase the heating effect upon the retort and its contents -of the hot waste gases passing through the passages 39. It will be understood that the passages 39 around both retort generators connnunicutc, so that the waste gases from either generator chamber serve to heat both retorts.

43 indicates a hood arranged in the lower portion of the hopper 13 of each retort generator and extending centrally across the same, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6,-said hood being a sufficient distance above the ridge-like top of the flue 15 so that gases may flow freely above said top into the space below said hood. At one end of such space there is provided a pipe 44- which connects with an exheuster 4-5, best shown in Fig. (5, the pipes i i of both retort-gencrin tors being connected with said cxhauster by a fitting 46. N indicates a valve provided in the pipes H for regulating the suction. applied through said pipes, and for closing either of said pipes when necessery in the operation of the apparatus. The exhuustcr 45 connects with a header 18, best shown in Figs. 2' and (i, which extends over the upper end of the flue l9 and connects with a plurality oi-preferably thrce-supcrheater pipes .49 which extend down through the center of the flue 19, as best shown in Fig. 2, and connect with a header shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The header 50 extends beyond one of the side walls of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 5, and connects by pipes 53].

with pipes 52 which discharge into the space below the grate bars 10 oi the two gen orator chambers, as shown in Fig. 1. The pipes are connected by an intermediate duct 53 which communicates through an opening 54 shown in Fig. 2 with the air duct The pipes 51 are provided with valves 55, and the pipes are provided with elves 56, as shown in Figs. 1 and 57 indicates a pipe leading from the duct 53 to the central combustion chamber 32, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Said pipe is provided with a valve 58 operated by ahandle 59. 60 indicates a steam pipe connecting at its upper end with the header 48 and at its lower end, through a pressure regulator 61., with e. steam supply pipe 82. The pressure regulator 61 may be any commercial form of device suitable for the purpose of admitting steam to the pipe 60 whenever the pressure therein falls below a predetermined point, and cutting off the steam supply when the pressure has been restored.

63 indicates a series of pressure gages, which are connected by tubes ()4- with openings 65 at different levels in the retort, so that the operator, by glancing at the several gages, may note immediately the pressure in different zones of the retort, to guide him in regulating the operation oi the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that the materials used are subbituminous coal,lignite, peat, or some similar material containing large percentages of moisture and eon'rbined oxygen, the

materials to be treated are placed in the hoppers of the two retort-generaters and pass down over the hood 43, andbetween the sides oi the flue 15 and the walls of the retort.

As has been suggested, the two retortgenerators are operated cyclically, one of them being operated on last during the run period of the other. when the temperature of the retort-generator on run falls below that required for the generation oi water gas and the temperatureof the re tort-generator on blast'rises to the proper point for the generation of water gas, which periods are substantially equal, the operation. of the retort-generators is reversed; thus the generation of water gas is continuous. During the blast period of either generator heated air is introduced below the grate bars of such generator from line 23, through duct 53, and the appropriate pipe 532, one of the valves 56 being open and the other closed so as to appropriately direct the incoming air to the proper generator. This air is forced in by means of the blower 29, and, passing up through the grate bars, cfiects the combustion of the fuel in the generator, which, as has been explained, is distributed throughout the generator by the deflector 14:. The fuel thus consumed consists of the residuum of the materials introduced through the hopper after its volatile constituents have been removed by distillation' in. the retort as will be hereinafter de-.

scribed. At this time, the gate 33, or 34, the case may be, controlling c01n1nuniction between the passage 31 of this generator and the combustion chamber 32, is open, while the gate of the other passage 31 is closed Thus the products of combustion pass out of the generating chamber through passage 31 to the central combustion cham-- ber This chamber 32 receives an auxiliary supply of heated air from the duct 23 through pipe 57, the valve 58 being open to a greater or less extent, depending upon the volume of air desired, so that the C0111" bustion of any unconsurned combustible gases is promoted. The hot blast gases then pass through the passages 39, around both retorts, until finally they are discharged into the central line 19 through openings 40. This flow of very hot waste gases through the passages heats the re torts, the heat being greatest at the bottom and gradual] y diminishing toward the top as the gases cool. The waste gases then pass down through the central flue 19 around the superheater pipes 4-9 to the outlet pipe 20, through which they are discharged to the stack 22, either directly or through the bypass 24, depending on the-adjustment of the valves QU- QY. The exhauster provides for regulating the flow of the waste gases so as to secure the best results. The flow of the hot Waste through the flue 19 around the superheater pipes 49 utilizes the heat of such gases to heat the contents of said pipes, and in like manner, the flow of the waste gases through the outlet pipe .20 utilizes their heat to heat the air in the air duct 23, so that a large part of the heat of the waste gases is utilized. By placing the superh'eater in a flue disposed between two retorts, the heat supplied to said, flue is conserved and is more effective in heating the superheater, since such flue is insulated by the walls of the retort.

When a sufficiently high temperature has been attained in the body of fuel within the generator, the air blast is shut ofi by closing the appropriate valve 56, and the gate 33, or 34, controlling the passage 31 leading from such generator, is shut to prevent the outflow "of gases through such passage 31. The appropriate valve which controls the admission of steam and gas from the superheater pi. pes to such generator chamber is then opened, admitting superheated steam and other associated with it, as hereinafter described, to the generator chamber, forming water gas by the decom osition of the steam and the union of tie oxygen. thereof with the carbon of the fuel (H,+C()). This hot water gas passes up through the material in the retort into the combustible gas flue 15,-and thence out through pipelfi, through which it is con- 8' ducted away for further treatment,.-its' passage into such fine being promoted by the exhaustcr connected with the vpipe 16, as

hereinbeiore suggested. During passage upward through the material in the retort, this hot water gas aids in the carbonization of the coal in the removal of scurf from the inner walls of the retort; in an equ'alization of the ten'iperatures in the retort; and in preventing decomposition of the richer by. drorarbon gases and ammonia gas which are in process of being given oil' by the coal. The materials used, passingdown from the hopper between the sides of the fine 15 and the walls ofthe retort, are subjected to gr'adually increasing temperatures as they pass downward, the hot combustible gases passing through the fine 15 serving to assist in raising the temperature of the fuel.

is to prevent cloggin r otthe fuel in the retort and insure its rce passage down hetwecn. the flne' and the Walls of the retort. By thus sglbjecting the materials to gradually increasing temperatures, the larger valve 44 in pipe 44 being opened, as soon III as the fuel reaches a temperature above 212 F., steam is given off and, by the o oration w of the exhaustcr 45, is drawn up unt er hood 43 and out through pipe 44 to the header L8, from which it passes downward through the supcrhcater pipes 49. Carbon dioxid is given OH in volume at temphratures of about 400 F., and consequently when that temperature is reached, the carbon dioxid also is drawn out through pipe 44 to the superheater pipes 49. Tar and ,the combustible gases do not begin to come. off in quantity at temperatures below 650 F; consequently it will be apparent that the moisture, as

steam, with a considerable admixture of The. object of tapering the sides of the flue 15 105 carbon diexid, may he distilled o and eonducted flOlll the retort to the superheater pipes 49 before the tar and romhustihle gases are given otl'. This steam and carbon dioxid are further heated in the super-limiter and are then introduced, with the steam supplied through pipe-(S0, into the generator chamber. Where the steam is tl(.(i1ll) )(3 l-E(l to fori'u water gas, as hereinhetore (iesrrihel, and a considerable percentage of the carbon dioxid is also reduced to the form of carbon monoxidone of the constituents of water gas.

The material in the retort, after the remoral of the steam and :ezrhon dioxid, is

15 to the combustible gas outlet pipe 16;

along with the Water gas produced in. the generator eluunher. The residue of the material passes on downwardthrough the retort as it is consumed from below until finally the ash passes through the grate hers into the ash-pit. It will be understood that the height of the retort, the temperature applied, and the speed of passage will be so controlled that the material will have given off substantiall\-' all of its volatile suhstzuiees, and will have become substantially fitted carbon and ash by the time it reaohes'the entrance to the generator portion of the apparatus. At this point it meets the defleetor 14-, which helps to sustain the column of material in the retort and utilizes the force of gravity to fracture the material and distribute it over the greater width of the generator. The dede'etor also serves to nreserve a central zone of less compacted mate rial, through which air and steam may more readily pass. I

Preferably, when sub-bituminous coal, lignite, or peat are the materials used, they are air dried before being fed into the hoppeiyuntil they do not contain more than thirty per cent. of moisture. which will ordinarily supply sufiieieut steam to support water gas production in the generator. but 21, sutlieient supply of steam and a uniform pressure are maintained h means oi the pressure regulator Sl which automat' tallyeontrols the admission oi :1 separate supply of steam through pipe (3%). as heroinheforc (leseril'ied.

\Yhen the material used a gas Coal--71. a. a reel rirh in Volatiles but eontaininp; only small percentages of moisture and (combined oxygen-the valves ll in pipes 4% are closed and the exhauster l5 put out of operation. The gases given of? initially during;' the run period are reused to pass (low ward through. the material in the retort to the lower end of the central line 15. where they iningletwith the gases rising from below and pass upward and out through pipe 16 so as to create a low pressure area at or adjacent to the inlet to the line 15. The exhauster :25 is used to eontrol the discharge of eomlmstible gases through the fine 15 during the blast period, in order to revent the waste gases tron'i passing up tirou h the material in the retort to the outlet no 15. The several pxfessure gages G3 enable the op eraton to observe the pressure at thediffee ent zones in the retort so thathe may regulate the operation of the exhaust-ere as may be necessary to maintain the proper flow of the gases in the retort and generator.

As compared with the existing forms of apparatus for the carhonization of coal-- particularly What are known as continuously operated vertical retortsthere is a distinct adventage grained tlu'ough using my improved apparatus. Moisture, heavy hydrocarbons which tend to condense, and the low temperature, tar, by their downward passage through the more highly heated portion oft-he retort, are further decomposed; a portion of the water vapor is gesified; a portion oi? the carbon dioxid is reduced to carbon monoxid; and much of the condensahle aydroearhons are further decomposed. ito fixed gases, increasing the quantity and, in some degree, the quality of the gas made. Furthermore, the heat produced by a pertial decom position of the residue of distillation is most completely utilized, since it supports the Water gas reaction in the generator: it supplies the heat required for the rarhonimtion of the coal; in its downwardpassage between the two retortsit superheats the steam used in water gas production; and. finally, it imparts a. large portion. of its remaining heat to the air supply before pzissingr to the stuck. it will he noted that each sueeessive use of the hot gases is for a purpose which requires and can be aecomplished by a lower tmnperature than the preceding: one. and eonsequently the ellieieney oi the operation is not impaired.

"The pipes 16 which carry off the comhustible eases are provided with dampers 17 for regulating the pull of the exhauster eonneeted With sueh pipes. Each damper is partially -losed during the blast period of the retort-generator with Whieh it is assoeiated so that the coal gases given off during that period ma y be conveyed away without drawing of? any substantial portion of the blast gases used.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by the use of my improved apparatus practically all the combustible eonstitucuts 0'? the materials used are eonverted into ity of retort-generators, each having a gen erating chamber and a retort above and communicating with said chan'iber, pas sages arranged to subject a plurality of said retorts to the heat of the Waste gases from either of the generating chambers, moans for-cutting off said passages from either of said generating chambers, a fine into the upper portion of which said passages dis charge, a stack with which the lower end of said fine communicates, one or more superheater conduits in said flue, saidsuperheater conduits communicating with said generat ing chambers, meansfor controlling the flow of gases from said super-heater con duits to one or the other of said generating chambers, means connecting tl c upper portions of said supcrheater conduits with the retorts, and means for supplying steam to said superheater conduits. A gas apparatus, comprising a plurality of ret(alt-generators, each having a gen erating chamber-and a retort above and com.- municating with said chamber, passages arranged to subject a plurality of said retorts to the heat of the Waste gases from either of the generating chambers, means for cutting off said passages from either of said generating chambers, a flue into the upper end portion of which said passages discharg one or more supcrheater conduits in said flue, means connecting said conduits with the upper portion of the retorts and for causing the gases to flow downward through said conduits, means connecting said conduits with the generating chambers, and means for controlling the How of gases to one or the other of said generating chambers.

10. A gas apparatus, comprising a plurality of retort-generators, each having a generating chamber and a retort above and communicating with said chamber, passages arranged to subject a plurality of said retorts to the heat of the waste gases from either of the generating chambers, means for cutting off said passages from either of said generating chambers, a fine into the upper end portion of which said passages discharge, one or more supcrheater conduits in said flue, means connecting said conduits with the upper portion of the retorts and for causing the gases to flow downward through said conduits, means connecting said conduits with the generating chambers, means for controlling the How of gases to one or the other of said generating chambers, and means for supplying steam to said conduits. 11. A gas apparatus, comprising a plurality oi retort-generators, each having a generating chamber and a retort above and comnmnicating with said chamber, passages ar'angcd to subject a plurality oi said rctorts to the heat of the waste gases from either of the generating chambers, means for cutting oft said passages from either of said generating chambexs, a fine into the upper portion of which said passages discharge, a stack, a pipe .leadin from the lower portion. of said fine to said stack, an air duct surrounding said pipe, and means for admitting air from said air duct to the generating chambers,

12. A gas apparatus, comprising a plu rality of retort-generators, each having a generating chamber and a retort above and con'nmunicatius. with said chamber, passages arranged to subject it plurality of said retorts to the heat of the waste gases from either of the generating chambers, means for cutting off said passages from either of said generating chambers, a flue into the upper portion of Which said passages discharge, a stack, a pipe leading from the lower portion of said fine to said stack, an air duct sm'ro'imding said pipe, and means for admitting air from said air duct to the generating chambers and to said passages.

13, A gas apparatus, comprising a. pin rality of retort-generators, each having a generating chamber and a retort above and communicating with said chamber, a central combustion chainlber communicating with said generating chambers, means for cutting off said combustion chamber from either of said generating chambers, means for supplying air to said combustion chamber, and means for conducting the gases from said combustion chamber around a plurality of said retort-s. v p

14. Agas apparatus, comprising a generating chamber, a retort above and com-- municating with said chamber, a plurality of separate gas outlets communicat ng witi said retort at different levels for separab ing the gases givenofi' at different temperatures, and exhaust mechanism for controlling the outflow of gas through said outlets.

15.-A gas apparatus, comprising a generating chamber, a retort above and communicating with said chamber, a plurality of separate gas outlet-s communicating with said retort at different levels, and means for superhoating the gases discharged through one of said outlets and discharging them into the generating chamber.

1.6. A gas apparatus, comprising a plurality of retort-generators, each having a generating chamber and a retort above and communicating with said chamber, and means for removing f1 .Jm said retorts the gases given ofi at a low temperature separately from those given ed at a higher temperaturefand for conducting the gases given off during the initial heating into either of said generating chambers.

1'7. A gas apparatus, comprising a watergas generating chamber, an externallyheated retort above and discharging into 18. A'gas apparatus, comprising a said eneratin chamber, a line centrally placed Within t e retort and opening inter inediately. thereinto, a duct connected With said flue, and means for controlling the flow of gas from the retort into said flue,

waters generating chamber, an externally-- ated retort above and discharging into said generating chamber, a fine cent ally placednithin the retort and opening intermediately thereinto, a duct connected with said fine, a separate gas outlet opening into the upper portion of the retort, and means for controlling the outflow of" gas through either the latter outlet or said flue.

19. A gas apparatus, comprising a retort-- generator having a generating chamber and a retoit above and communicating with said chan'iber, means for conducting blast gases from the generating chamber upwandly around said retort, a fine into which said gases are discharged, a superhcater in said flue and arranged to discharge into the generating chamber, a pluralitv of separate gas outlets connnunicating with said retort at dilfercnt levels, and a duct leading from one of said outlets to said super-heater.

A gas apparatus, comprising a phr rality of retort generators. each consisting of a 'a'tergas generating chamber and a retort above and discharging by gravity directly into said chamber, passages arranged to subject a plurality of said retorts to the heat of the blast gases from either oi. the generating chambers, and separate outlets from said retort-s for separately removing therefrom liberated therein at dillcrcnt temperatures.

21.. A gas apparatus, comprising a plurality of retort-gcnerators, each consisting of a watengas generating chamber and a. .rct'ort above and discharging by gravity directly .into said cluimbcr. passages arranged to subject a plurality 01*- said rct-orts to the blast gases from either of the generating chambers, means For cutting off either of said. generating chambers from said passages, a

snpcrheatcr subjected to the heat o l? the blast gases issuing from the passages around said rctorts, and a plurality of separate outin is from each of said retools, one oi the outlets from each retort being connected with, said supcrhcater.

A gas apparatus, comprising a, retort generator having a generating chamber and uv retort above and commiinicatlug-With said chamber. av plurality of outlets from said retortat different.- levels, n'ieans for controlling thedischargeof gases tl'n'ough said outlets, and gagesoperatively connected with difthe blast gases from the generator of each unit to heat the retort-s of a plurality of said units, and means for superheating and alternately introdruring into the generating chamber of the several units during the run period thereof the gases given ofi' initially in said units, respectively.

24. The combination with a plurality of retort generator units, each comprising a Water-gas generating chamber and a retort above and discharging directly into said chamber, of means for alternately utilizing the blast gases from the generator of each. unit to heat the retorts of a plurality of said units, means for superheating and alternately introducing into the generating chamber of the several units during the run period thereof the gases given ott' initially in said units. respectively, and means for separately witlulrawing from the several units the high tinnpcrature volatile substances liberated therein.

2f. The combination with a plin'ality oit retort generator units, each comprising a water-gas geimrating chamber, a retort above and discharging by gravity directly into said chamber. and means "for maintaining continuously a supply of fuel in said retorts, of conduits opening into the retorts intermcdiatcly of the mass of fuel therein, and external means for heating the retorts of a plurality of said units by the blast gases from the generating chamber of either unit.

.26. The combination with a retort-generator. comprising a 'ater-gas generating chamber. and a retort above and discharging by gravity directly into said chamber, of means for withdrawing from the retort the gases given oil" initially. theii'ein, superheating them, and then introdiuring them. into the gcnmratinc.- chamber.

27. The combination with a .i]iuff i1ity ot retort tn:ncrators, cacll comprising a generating chamber and a. retort above and comluuuicating with such generating chamber, of a flue disposed between said retort-gimcraters, supcrbmiting means in said flue coirncctcd with said rc-torts and with. said gencrating chambers. and means for conductiug blast gases from said retort-generators through said llue. 

